Typewriter combination



June22, 1943.

J. s. EDISON TYPE-WRITER COMBINATION Filed Aug; 14, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JOHN S. D/s0/v www ATTORNEY.

June 22, 1943.

- J. S. EDlSQN TYPEWRITER COMBINATION Filed Aug. 14, 1939 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I IN VEN TOR. Joy/v S. f so/v ,flvwm' ATTORNEY June J. 5 zblson 2,322,289

' TYPEWRITER COMBINATION Filed Aug. 14, 1939 e Shee ts-S'fie't 4 4 INVENTOR: P :5. 4. Joy/v S false/v,

ATTORNEYS.

June 22,1943. J. s. EDISON ,3

TYPEWRITER COMBINATION I Fil ed Aug. 14. 19:59 a Sheets-Sheet s I N V EN TOR.

JOHN S. ffl/sozv,

A TTORNEY.

Patented June 22, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TYPEWRITER COMBINATION John S. Edison, Burbank, Calif. Application August 14, 1939, Serial No. 290,025

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to typewriters and has particular reference to a device for typing on large sheets of paper.

Two general types of typewriters are found in commercial use at the present time. One type comprises a stationary keylever-typebar mechanism and a platen cylinder movable relative thereto.

In the other type, the keylever-typebar mechanism is movable over a flat platen. Certain characteristics are common to both types of machines. One is that the paper to be printed on retains a certain, predetermined position relative to the platen until it is removed therefrom upon completion of the printing operation. Another characteristic is the limited capacity of the machines, the longest platen cylinder found prac tical in commercial use at the present time being about twenty six inches, and the maximum width of the flat platen being considerably less.

In View of the foregoing, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a machine capable of printing on sheets or rolls of paper of any desired width. It is another object to. provide a device in which the paper to be printed on may be moved on the platen at any time during the printing operation in order to position the printing at any desired point, or points on the surface of the sheet or roll of paper.

A further object is the provision of means for moving the keylever-typebar mechanism of the device relative to the platen in order to position this mechanism at the point of the platen selected for printing.

Another object is to line-space the paper correctly after it has been placed in the desired position on the platen. A further object isto lock the keylever-typebar mechanism in operative position relative to the platen upon completion of the preliminary positioning in order that the letter spacing may be uniform. Another object is the provision of means for varying the line and letter spacings of the device. Another object is to provide means for maintaining the rolls of paper taut and under even tension in order that the paper may be moved back and forth without shifting out of line sidewise and o hat t m y be brough ck o a prior position of correct registration with the printing mechanism.

It is a further object to provide a keylevertypebar mechanism which may readily be entirely removed from the platen to permit other operations to be performed thereon, and which may again be att ched and quickly positioned in any desired, correct position relative to the platen. A still further object is to provide means for tilting the platen into operative position relative to the printing mechanism and to fix it in such other positions as may be found more convenient for other operations, when the printing mechanism is not operatively connected therewith. 1

Other objects and many advantageous features of the invention will become apparent upon examination of the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the invention is illustrated, and a complete description of the device illustrated in the drawings follows.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying the invention, and with part of the framing broken away for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the structure of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section and on a larger scale, of parts of Fig. 1, particularly illustrating means for mounting the printing mechanism of the device;

Figs. 4, and 5 are detail views of parts of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the platen of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a substantially corresponding front view thereof, taken on line 1-1 of Fig. .6;

Fig. .8 is a side elevation of the platen of Fig. 6;

Figs. 9 to 12 are fragmentary views of detail of the device, the functioning and importance of which will be hereinafter fully described;

Fig, 13 illustrates a slight modification of the device of Fig. 1; and, 1

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating a further modification of the platen mechanism.

The device of the invention, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 includes a standA, carrying a platen B for registration with a typewriter keylever-typebar mechanism C, hereinafter generally referred to as the printing mechanism.

The stand is shown to comprise end frames I, 2, suitably combined by braces ,3, 4 and a backing 5, to form a rigid structure of any desired length- The end frames are shaped at the top to form circular tracks for a cylindrical trough forming part of the platen. This trough consists of a sheet of metal 6, fastened to substantially semicircular flanges l.

The platen is rigid on these flanges, and its semicircular front edge I is of the diameter of an ordinary typewriter platen cylinder. This platen may be tilted into the position indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 1 to register with the pr nting mechanism upon depression of a spring held lever II to release a tooth, or teeth of this lever from engagement with a rack l2 of the platen trough.

The printing mechanism C is an ordinary typewriter, for the sake of lightness and ease of operation preferably of the portable type, from which the platen cylinder has been removed. This machine is shown set on a bracket, or cradle 20, which is held suspended from a rail 2| in a manher which will be fully described presently. The particular typewriting machine, part of the frame of which is illustrated in the drawings, is the commercially well known Corona portable. At

this time, it is sufiicient to note that a type 22* of the typewriter is positioned to strike the circular edge of the platen when the latter is tilted into the position indicated in dotted outline. In

order to afford a perfect printing surface, a strip of material l3, such as the rubber ordinarily used in typewriter platens, is shown inserted into the edge of the platen. It may be well to state at this point that the platen edge In does not necessarily need to be semicircular, so lon as the strip along the edge upon which the imprint is received is correctly ,positioned to receive imprints. But the entirecurved edge to may, of course, be made from the ordinary typewriter platen material, if preferred.

From the foregoing, brief description, it is seen that the types of the printing mechanism will strike the platen insert when the keylevers are depressed and that, when a basket shift machine is selected, both upper and lower case type characters may be imprinted thereon.

The cradle is hung to slide along the rail 2| which, for convenienca here takes the shape of a cylindrical tube. From the front end of the cradle extends a frame 23 to a rail 24 0f the lower brace 4 for the purpose of supporting the weight of the typewriter, and suitable antifriotion rollers 25 are provided on the brace to ride in or on this rail. A light and sturdy suspension for the cradle is in this manner provided, enabling the operator to push the cradle right and left, into any desired position along the edge of the platen.

The rail 2| is detachably secured to the stand in order that the rail, cradle, and typewriter all may be removedwhen. not needed. To this end, the rail is in Figs. 3 and 4 shown made with elongated perforations 2V, in which bolts 26 of fixed brackets 21 are seated, there being one bracket on each of the frame ends I and 2. Orifices 2| are made in the rail opposite these perforations for insertion of a suitable hand tool to turn the boltheads lengthwise of the perforations, whereupon the rail may be removed. Or more elaborate devices may be substituted.

For the sake of lightness and economy, the cradle is shown made from wood shaped to engage the outer surface of the rail, and brackets 30, extending from the carriage rails 3| of the typewriter, are slotted at the bottom, as indicated in Fig. 5, to ride on studs 32 of the cradle. A light rail 33 is attached to the front edge of the cradle and wheels 34 are fastened to the bottom of the typewriter in position to ride on this rail and to carry the weight thereof. The foregoing, however, is merely illustrative. of means of detachably securing the machine to the cradle.

The carriage of a typewriter of this type is propelled by a tape or cabl from a spring drum mounted on the base but, as in this case .the

frame of the typewriter travels on the carriage rails which are stationary on the cradle, a suitable spring drum 35 is shown mounted on the cradle and a cable 36 extends therefrom to a slotted bracket 31 of the machine. A stud 38 is placed on the cradle bottom, on which the end of this cable may be hung when detached from the bracket 3?. The typewriter may then be lifted off the cradle and, if desired, transferred. to another platen combination. In this manner, it is seen that the typewriter may be transferred to the cradle of another platen combination, or that the typewriter, cradle and rail may be transferred separately or as a unit to another platen combination.

It was above stated that the paper to be printed on may be moved on the platen, independently of the typewriter, to bring any desired portion thereof into registration with the platen insert shown to comprise a table top which, in this case, takes the form of ,a drafting board 40, at the rear of which a spool 4| is hung to support a roll of paper 42. The latter is bent over the platen edge. H) and wound on a second spool 43, which is pivotally hung below the front edge of the board. The two spools M and 43 are operatively interconnected for simultaneous rotation to move the paper back and forth across the board to bring any point thereof in line with the platen insert l3, as will be more fully explained presently. 1

In many types of drawings, as for example in architectural and engineering work, a great deal of lettering is placed on the drawings. Frequently one-half portion of a detail drawing is occupied by, tables, of specifications, legends, notes, etc., which heretofore have been hand-lettered by the draftsman. But, with the device of the invention, it is possible to select any portion of the board, if not the entire surface thereof, on which to place the required drawings and printed specification, whereupon the sheet may be moved down to bring any desired portion thereof in line with the platen insert, and the cradle and type writer may then be moved along the rail 2| until the selected portion of the sheet is reached, whereupon the typing may be effected.

The paper may be moved by hand to effect line spacing thereof, but it is preferred to provide suitable line space mechanism in order to be able to attain uniformity of spacing. Such mechanism is, in Figs..9 and 10, shown to comprise a sleeve 50, rotatable on the pivot 5| of the spool 43. On this sleeve are arranged ratchet wheels 50 50* 50, and a detent 52 is hung on a lever 53 for engagement with the teeth of these ratchets. A spring 54 maintains the detent in engagement therewith. The lever 53 is slidable on a stud 55 and may be manually shifted thereon to bring the detent into engagement with any one of these ratchets. The lever is shown made with flanges 53 53 which encompass the sides of the ratchet engaged by the detent to maintain the latter in position.

A conical disc 56 is secured to the pivot 5!, and the inner end of the sleeve is conically recessed to ride on this disc. A lever 51 is pivotally hung on the platen above this sleeve and it has a pendent finger reaching between two of said ratchets. This lever may be manually swung outward to release the sleeve from the disc, whereupon the spool 43 may be rotated independently of the detent mechanism. But when the detent is released for engagement it will bring the spool to a fixed stop in the manner all platen cylinders of typewriters are stopped in line spacing.

It was stated that the two spools 4|, 43 are operatively interconnected and this connection may be effected substantially as indicated in Figs. 6 to 8. Gear teeth 60 cut into the periphery of the flange of the spool 4|, and these teeth mesh with a gear SI of a rotatable stud 62. A sprocket wheel 63 is mounted to rotate with the gear BI and it is, by means of a chain '64 connected for rotation with a sprocket wheel 65 of the front spool pivot @5. When the detent 52 is retracted, it is merely required to place one hand on the face of the paper web 42 and the paper may be manually shifted back and forth on the two spools to any desired position on the platen, whereupon the detent is released to effect the desired line spacing. If the teeth of the ratchets on the sleeve 50 are of different spacing periph erally, it is seen that the line spacing may be varied.

The spool 4| is made removable in order that, when all the paper of the roll 42 thereon is used up, a duplicate roll may be mounted in its place, or a roll with paper of different width. To this end, the spool is shown detachably seated on the stud 44. A pivot 66 is seated in the other end of the spool, and this pivot may be withdrawn from the spool which thereupon may be detached.

The two spools are connected to rotate at the same speed, but because the linear speed of the paper leaving one spool and entering the other constantly changes, compensating means are required. Such means is here shown to comprise a coil spring 41, one end of which is fastened to the g flange of the spool 43', while the other end is anchored in the pivot 45. This spring, which may be any length within the limits of the spool, is put under suflicient tension after the paper web is attached thereto by moving the teeth of the flange 6!) out of engagement with the gear .GI and then pulling on the chain 64 to put the spring 41 under tension and, if of sufficient length, will maintain the web taut until the paper is entirely used up.

Spools Ill and II are shown'mounted on the platen to support a second web of paper, I2. These spools may be identical with the aforenamed spools and may be operated in the same manner, but no line space mechanism is required in connection therewith. It should be sufficient to state that these spools are similarly interconnected for rotation at the same speed and that similar means is embodied for maintaining the web 12 under uniform tension.

Details of construction, in many lines of en gineering, and particularly in architectural engineering, have been so highly standardized that it is possible to furnish rolls of paper containing all the details required for a certain type of construction. Such a roll of details is shown mounted on the platen of Fig. 6 and the numeral l2 represents the web thereof. If the details are consecutively numbered, substantially as indicated in Fig. 6, it is seen that the web may be fed. along by rotating one of the rollers I0, H, until the required detail reaches the proper transverse position under the web 42, whereupon the latter is moved until the detail appears below the place selected for reproduction thereof.

In this manner, a great deal of time may be saved, the two webs may be quickly adjusted relatively, and the necessary details may be traced off on the upper web and the legends,

iii

notes or specifications may be typed thereon in any desired position.

In work of the character here considered, it maybe desirable to'change the letter spacing, and this may readily be effected, substantially as indicated in Figs. 3 and 12. A rack 80 is mounted on the rail 2| and a screw, or worm 8! is secured to a rod 82, which is seated to rotate in a rock frame 83, pivotally mounted at 84. A lever 85 extends from this frame to the front of the cradle, and it is shown yieldingly held elevated by a spring 85 to maintain the worm in engagement with the rack. This lever is held depressed until the cradle is moved into approximately corr rect position, whereupon it is released and the rod 82 may then be rotated to obtain finer adjustment of the cradle. Wider or narrower letter spacing may then be obtained by a very slight rotation of the rod 82. Or, if preferred, the worm may remain normally disengaged and be brought into engagement with the rack upon depressing this key 85.

ferred by draftsmen and. the position of the printing mechanism corresponds to the height of the 'ordinarytypewriter desk or stand. It is, for this reason, necessary to tilt the platen into proper position for imprinting. When the printing mechanism is not in use, it is understood that the board may be tilted into any desired angle within the range of adjustment thereof.

A modification of the foregoing device is illustrated in Fig. 13. In this view, the platen Hill is shown pivotally mounted on brackets ill! of the stand 102 to tilt on the axis I63 of the semicircular edge It' i. Suitable means should be embodied for maintaining the platen in the desired angular position, and such means is here, for the sake of simplicity, shown to comprise links 1% fitted with a clamping bolt 36. The platen insert, lfi'l, should in this case be made wide enough to register with the type at any angle of adjustment of the platen.

This modified structure may otherwise remain as described and used as a combination drafting and typing device, the only difference in its operation being that the draftsman will have to be seated or the typist must operate in standing position. The device is not, however, limited to such use, but is ideally adapted for billing, accounting and statistical work. For census, election and other statistical work, typewriter carriages have een made forty eight inches long, but have not been found practical, partly on account to added weight and mostly becausesuch ieng carriages do not retain their shape and are too delicate tostand the shocks of ordinary use. But in the device of the invention, the platen may be much wider without thereby adding to the weight of the moving parts of the device or in any way aifect the ease of operation thereof.

Even where very wide webs of paper are used, no difficulty is encountered in feeding the paper across the platen, either by placing the palm of the hand thereon, as above suggested, or by manually moving the chain which interconnects the two spools, because the friction encountered in passing over the front edge of the platen is negligible. It is, however, possible to eliminate what little friction may be found at this point by substituting for the integral printing edge a platen cylinder H9, such as indicated in Fig. 14. This platen cylinder is shown mounted on a flat platen i l i, which may otherwise remain as above described.

When such platen is used it is, of course, necessary also to employ the line space mechanism ordinarily found in typewriters. But as such line space mechanism is so well known in the art, it is not thought necessary to burden the present invention with illustrations and description thereof.

While in the foregoing I have described preferred forms of the invention, I do not wish to limit myself to this particular structure but reserve the right to embody therein such modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. The combination with a stand, of a table having a curved front edge forming a platen and made with pendent semicircular flanges seated in circular tracks of said stand for tilting the table relative thereto, a rail mountable on the front of said stand in parallel relation to said platen, a cradle slidable on said rail; a printing mechanism detachably mounted on said cradle for letter space movement parallel with said rail, means for correctly positioning the platen of said tilting table relative to said printing mechanism, and means for feeding material to be printed upon along said table and around the said platen.

2. The combination with a stand, of a platen on said stand, a rail on the stand, supporting means slidable on said rails, a printing device detachable on said supporting means for imprinting on said platen, letter spacing means between the printing device and its support, line spacing means for material to be printed upon on said platen, a toothed rack on said rail, a keylever, and a worm on said lever for engagement with said rack for adjusting the printing mechanism to vary the letter spacing of said printing mechanism.

3. The combination with a stand, of a flat table for holding imprint material tiltable on said stand, a platen along one edge of said table, a support attachable to said stand for lateral adjustment along said platen, a track on the support parallel with said platen, a typewriting machine from which the carriage has been removed hung on said track in position to print on said imprint material on said platen edge in response to keylever depressions, and a spring drum op eratively mounted between the typewriter and the said support for letter spacing purposes.

4. The combination with a stand, of a platen tiltable thereon, a rail attachable to said stand parallel with said platen, a second rail nearer the bottom of the stand parallel with the platen and said first named rail, a support attachable to and movable on said rails, a typewriter key lever and typebar mechanism mountable on said support for letter spacing movement parallel with the movement thereof, and means for tilting the platen to bring it into operative position of registration with said mechanism.

5. The combination with a stand, of a platen along one edge of said stand, a support movable on said stand parallel with said platen, a track on the support parallel with the platen, a typewriter printing mechanism hung on said track for letter space movement along said track, letter spacing mechanism between the typewriter and the support, a rail along the front edge of the support parallel with said track and platen, and wheels on the typewriter mechanism riding on said rail.

6, The combination with a stand, of a platen along one edge of said stand, a support attachable to the front of said stand for movement parallel with said platen, and a printing mechanism mountable on said support for letter space move ment parallel with the movement thereof, whereby the support is movable to any desired printing position'along the platen and the printing mechanism is movable on the support in the same direction for letter spacing purposes.

7. The combination with a stand, of a platen along one edge of said stand, a support attachable to the front of said stand for movement parallel with said platen, and a printing mechanism mountable on said support for letter space movement parallel with the movement thereof, and means for locking said support in selected position along the stand, whereby to adapt the printing mechanism for full length letter spacing movement at various places along the platen.

8. The combination with a stand, of a platen along one edge of said stand for supporting imprint material, a rail in front of the stand parallel' with said platen, supporting means slidable on said rail, a printing mechanism on said supporting means for letter space movement parallel with the movement thereof for imprinting on said material, letter spacing means between the printing means and its support, line spacing means for the material on the platen, and means operative between said support and the said rail for correctly adjusting the letter spacing of the printing mechanism relative to the imprint on the material.

9. The combination with a stand, of a platen along the edge of said stand for supporting imprint material, a rail attachable to the stand in front thereof and parallel with said platen, supporting means detachably mountable to slide on the rail parallel with said platen, a printing mechanism on said supporting means for letter space movement parallel with the movement thereof to imprint on said material, letter spacing means between the printing mechanism and its support, line spacing mechanism for the material on the platen, and means operative between said supporting means and the said rail for correctly adjusting the letter spacing of the printing mechanism relative to imprints on said material.

JOHN S. EDISON. 

